Directional Verbs

[Dan I. Slobin]

In fact, Scott Liddell (among others) does this precisely in his 
pathbreaking book (Liddell, S. 2003. Grammar, gestures, and meaning 
in American Sign Language.  Cambridge University Press).  On the 
basis of detailed analysis of ASL, he proposes ways in which our 
conceptions of spoken language--and language in general--need to be 
revised.  He concludes:
"The knowledge that sign languages are real human languages allows us 
to take a broader look at the concept 'language'. ... It is possible, 
of course, that ASL in particular, and signed languages more 
generally, are organized differently than vocally produced languages 
... It is much more likely that spoken and signed languages both make 
use of multiple types of semiotic elements in the language signal, 
but that our understanding of what constitutes language has been much 
too narrow" (p. 362).
Dan Slobin

At 03:08 PM 3/27/2009, you wrote:
>OK, Susan, if what you said is true, why don't they compare spoken
>languages to sign languages rather than vice versa?
>
>2009/3/27 Fischer Susan <susan.fischer at rit.edu>:
> > Because they're languages.
> > Susan D. Fischer
> > Susan.Fischer at rit.edu
> > drword563 (Skype)
> > drword354 (iChat/AIM)
> > +1-714-908-9824 (fax)
> > Center for Research on Language
> > UCSD

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Dan I. Slobin, Professor of the Graduate School
Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Linguistics

Department of Psychology        email: slobin at berkeley.edu
3210 Tolman #1650                 phone (Dept):  1-510-642-5292
University of California             phone (home): 1-510-848-1769
Berkeley, CA 94720-1650         fax: 1-510-642-5293
USA                                      http://ihd.berkeley.edu/Slobin.htm
 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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